Beeline Moto Review – Is This The Best Motorcycle Sat Nav?

If you are on the hunt for the best motorcycle sat nav on the market you are going to want to read on to discover more about my Beeline Moto last summer which I purchased last summer and have been testing since then.

The Beeline Moto Sat Nav device takes a completely different approach to your traditional motorcycle route planner. Beeline have designed a unique tool that’s simple to use, unobtrusive and at $210 or £149, a much more affordable option when compared to the market leaders Garmin or TomTom offerings.

I purchased my Beeline Moto last summer for a road trip and you can read on to find out why I believe it’s the best motorcycle Sat Nav available today.

Beeline Moto Review

How It Works

The Beeline Moto navigation device pairs with your smartphone and follows routes you plan using the free Beeline app. You can download it now from the App Store or Google Play (search for ‘Beeline bike navigation’) and have a mess around with it.

You will find the app far easier for planning a route than any sat nav you have previously used.

Because the Beeline Moto device is battery powered and connects to your phone via bluetooth there are no wires to connect to your bike and your phone can be safely tucked away in your inside pocket.

The Beeline app itself uses Google maps which means wherever Google has mapped the Beeline Moto will work, for free. No more having to pay for map updates 12 months after purchasing your sat nav.

You can also import GPX files into the app from Motorcycle Diaries and other sites.

Beeline Moto Navigation Options

Route Mode

The Beeline Moto Navigation unit is directly aimed at the motorcyclist who rides for pleasure. Unlike your regular motorcycle sat nav from Garmin or TomTom the Beeline Moto keeps it simple and clean.

The information supplied by the navigation device is kept to essential only which ensures it is low distraction.

You have an arrow pointing the way you need to go, a dot either side showing you the next turn direction, a countdown telling you when that next turn is and a journey progress showing you how far you have travelled and how far there is still to go.

Route mode is for when you need to get somewhere rather than just being out for a ride. It guides you turn by turn much like any other Sat Nav. It just does does it in a minimalist way.

Compass Mode

Where the Beeline Moto unit really shines though is its compass mode. When you ride for fun and enjoyment a big part of that buzz comes from the freedom we feel when we hit the road on two wheels.

Using compass mode the Beeline Moto navigation system allows me to keep that freedom while at the same time pointing me in the general direction of my final destination.

The above images show a recent route I set up on the Beeline app for a motorcycle camping trip, the first is in route mode while the second is in compass mode.

Both are from Heysham port to the Uig ferry terminal but while the route mode works like traditional Sat Navs do and gives turn by turn directions, the compass mode simply points me in the general direction of my destination.

You can see from the images that I had set a couple of way points for potential campsites. As you would imagine, in compass mode the Beeline arrow points me to the first way point, then the second and then to Uig.

When riding in compass mode the Beeline device becomes an even simpler display. You just have the compass arrow that always points toward your destination (rather than North).

The ‘miles to go before the next turn’ is replaced with a total miles to go to your destination as the crow flies.

I can’t tell you why I enjoy riding on the compass mode so much, mainly because I’m not entirely sure of the reasons but I assume its a bit of everything listed below.

• I only glance occasionally at the arrow just to ensure I’m still heading in the right direction. This means I get to enjoy my ride and the surroundings rather than constantly checking the Beeline for my next turn.
• When arriving at your destination it doesn’t feel like you’ve cheated, you’ve just had a bit of help.
• The device doesn’t have to re-route every time you miss a turning which saves phone battery life. In fact, you can safely turn off your phone when using the compass setting because there’s no such thing as a ‘missed’ turn. Just take the next one that gets you pointing in the right direction.
• If you find yourself veering off course but you’re enjoying the road you are on you can just turn off further on down the road.

Beeline Moto Display

As well as the main display shown earlier, there’s other information available at the push of a button while you are on your trip.

As well as the displays shown above there is also a speedometer which I imagine is for if you use it in the optional cycling mode.

Beeline Moto Vs Garmin or TomTom Sat Nav

The Beeline Moto shines as a navigation aid for road trips or for lazy Sunday rides but if you’re a motorcycle courier or similar then you are going to want to go with one of the motorcycle Sat Nav devices from the big 2 manufacturers.

Both the Garmin and TomTom motorcycle Sat Nav offerings give much more detail and include things like traffic updates, road works and speed camera locations, information that is going to be essential to you if time is of the essence.

If you ride for fun and enjoyment though then the Beeline Moto should be your first choice.

• It looks great and is ideal for classics, retro’s and naked bikes
• It is free to use anywhere in the world forever – never be asked to pay for maps again
• It is IP67 rated 100% water and shock proof
• You don’t have to wire it up to your bike – works straight out of the box
• Has a cycle mode for those of you who do a bit of mountain biking

What’s in the Box

As well as the actual device and charger I found a quick start guide, a thank you note and 2 mounting options that come as standard.

• Beeline Moto unit
• Charger
• Modular mount
• Sticky pad for modular mount
• Allen key to adjust modular mount
• Elastic strap mount
• Elastic straps for above (comes with 3 sizes, 2 not shown in photo)
• Quick start guide

Beeline Moto Mounting

Anyone else find motorcycle sat nav mounts ugly? The Beeline Moto solves this with their small universal elastic strap mount that can be discretely fixed to your handlebars.

Once attached to your bars you offer up the actual navigation device and it connects to the mount via a twist and turn that locks it into place. If you look at the image below of the reverse side you can see how it clicks onto the mount. It’s the same method regardless of which mount you use.

The device is easily removed so you can take it off and slip it in your pocket whenever you are leaving your motorcycle unattended.

I’ve included one of my watches in the photos for scale so you can see just how discrete the Beeline Moto is, actual width of the device is just 1 3/4 inches or 45mm.

As well as the universal elastic strap and a sticky pad modular mount that comes in the box there are several other mounting options available as accessories including a bar clamp, a 1 inch gimbal adapter and a scooter mirror stalk clamp.

Conclusion

I hope I’ve covered all the bases and helped you decide if the Beeline Moto is the right Sat Nav for you, or at least given you something to think about.

If I were to lose or break mine, I would definitely replace it before my next road trip and I guess that’s the best recommendation I can give it.

If you do decide to buy then the ‘order here’ links above come with free shipping for both the UK and the USA and if you purchase the gun metal premium edition they throw in the free carry case shown above that’s handy for storing both your device and the charger when you are off your bike.

Beeline Moto FAQ

Is Beeline Moto worth the price tag?

When compared to other motorcycle sat nav devices the Beeline Moto at $210 or £149 is great value for money.

Does Beeline Moto use phone data?

No, once you have planned your route in the Beeline app you can switch the data off on your phone and your Beeline Moto will still work. The only time this would be a problem is if you take a wrong turn, the app won’t be able to re-route you. In this case you could either pull in and switch your data back on or turn around and get yourself back on route. This isn’t an issue when using compass mode.

Does the Beeline Moto work in USA?

The Beeline Moto works anywhere in the world. If your route is on Google maps (over 90% of the worlds roads are) then you’re good to go.

Is the Beeline Moto waterproof?

It is waterproof and shockproof with an IP67 rating and has been designed for whatever your motorcycle ride throws at it.

Does the Beeline Moto work with my phone?

The Beeline Moto works with all iPhones and all the flagship Android phones. Your phone should be running Android 7.0 (Nougat) or higher with Google Play, iOS 12.1 or later and be Bluetooth Low Energy compatible

I’ve seen these Beeline devices selling for under £80 ($100), what gives?

That’s the Beeline Velo which is for cyclists. It was the first product the company released and it was built on a successful crowd funding campaign. The Beeline Velo is not built to survive motorcycling although the Beeline Moto is of course more than tough enough to be used on a cycle and has an option to use it as such for those who do a bit of both motorcycling and cycling.

So, if you enjoy some weekend mountain biking just set cycling as your activity for the day in the Beeline Moto settings and fix it to your handlebars.

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